The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1887-05-21
ATELEcRAPHER's TRIALS.
How News Crossed Newfoundland In
the Stormy nays of '6f.

1t was in 1861, before the days of a praeti-
cal Atlantic cable, when news from Europe
was received from steamers at st. Johns and
sent to New York by a short cable from Cape
North to Cape Ray, and land line through
the New Brunswick wilderness. The atti-
tude of Great Britain toward the southern
confederacy was matter of great anxiety,
and European dispatches were of the first
political and financial Importance in the
United States just at that time there was
an unusual political feeling in Newfoundland
and the two parties took extreme measures
to annoy and circumvent each other. One of
these means was to cut the wire in some iso-
lated spot. and prevent communication with
New Brunswick. 1t was at such times. of
interrupted communication that the genius,
courage and activity of the telegraph staff
under the able management of Mr.. A. nj.
MacKay, ShOne out conspicuously in their
efforts to restore communication and forward
the important intelligence for which both
the old and the new worlds were painting,
The story refers to one of these achievements
On Saturday night, early in June, the
steamer Prince Albert glided into St Johns
harbor. She had made splendid run, and
arrived in few hours less than six days
from Galway. The news she brought was of
international Importance. But the day be-
fore, the wires had been cut, poles destroyed
and great gap in the line Of communication
created. What was to be done? How save
the honor Of the Telegraph company and the
the nearest point from which New York
could be reached was La Manche, on the
shore of Placentia bay, which by the only
practicable route, was about 100 miles distant
from st Johns. The roads were rough and
billy the arms of two bays had to be crossed
in boats, and then rude path through the
woods had to be followed till La Manche
was reached. A desperate effort must be
made to have the news in New York in time
for Monday mornings newspapers. Every
moment. therefore, was precious.
A selection was at once made, from the
Geographic corps, of a courier to start on
this important service. He was tried and
trusty agent-resolute, tenacious of purpose,
full of resources when an emergency arose,
and possessed of immense physical endur-
ance. 1.-The hour" brought 'the man." He
received his orders: and just as the chimes
from the cathedral proclaimed the hour of
midnight on Saturday, light wagon drove
up to the door of the telegraph office. The
driver was Jim Sullivan with his rat-tailed
mare, 'Kitty"-an ungainly animal, but full
of nerve and pluck, having an immense stride
and reckoned the best roadster in st Johns.
The Office door opened and the courier APP
peared, with a great leathern bag stuffed
with the precious dispatches, worth their
weight in gold in New York. For a moment
his keen eye surveyed horse and wagon to
see that all was right. He leaped lightly
into the conveyance. Kitty was off like a
flash. The route fixed on was st. Johns to
Kelligrews on the south shore of Conception
bay distance of 20 miles, along which
Kitty was whirling our courier. The bay
must then be crossed in boat to BriguS, on
the opposite shore. Then came another land
journey, first to Spaniard's bay, then to New
Harbor on the shore Of Trinity bay; thence
by boat to Rantem at the head of that bay
and then tramp along rough path, through
the primeyal woods, across the neck of land
that separates Trinity and Placentia bays. to
La Manche, the terminus of the journey.
In an hour and quarter after leaving st.
Johns Kitty ratified into Topsail, having
covered II miles of rough billy road in that
time.
In another hour Kelligrews was reached
and Kitty, with heaying TANKS and out
stretched neck, and dripping with sweat and
foam. stood still. Jim leaped down and COW
cred her with caresses, which seemed to be q
sufficient reward for all her exertions. The
courier looked at his watch-"Quarter past z
well done, Jim-take this-be good to
Kitty-now Tor boat.
Bnt to his dismay, the courier found, when
he reached the beach, that the wind was un-
favorable for crossing by sailing boat.
Here was what he called "a fix" After con.
sidering the situation for moment, his reso.
linton Was taken. A few miles to windward
there was a spot called Lance Cove, from
which, if he could reach it, he could cross
the bay with flowing sheet, as he knew by
the direction of the wind Poor Kitty was
used up. He must foot with his leathern
pouch over his shoulder, he started at a run
| making four miles in less than an hour
| There was faint dawn in the eastern sky
| ON Sunday morning, as he Numbered at the
! door of Paddy Kelley's tilt and shouted for a
| boat In ten minutes PaddyS skill was
| bounding over the waters OF Conception bay
with fair wind. AT o'clock a. M, the